- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Michael Matheson on 11 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what the cost is of (a) oil and (b) gas imports to Scotland from Russia, and what its position is on how much Scotland's economy relies on these imports.
Answer
Using official statistics, which are at a UK level, in 2020 indigenous gas production met more than half of UK demand with the remainder supplied via imports of gas, of which 5% came from Russia. In 2020, UK demand was met by imports of approximately 80% of crude oil and 47% of Petroleum products. Russian imports met an estimated 7.8% and 7.7% of UK demand.
In 2020, of the Petroleum products, Russian imports were predominately diesel, accounting for 33% of total UK Diesel imports.
In 2020, total gross trade in goods in 2020 (Imports and Exports) between the UK and Russia was £10.3 billion, which included the following imported from Russia: Refined oil (£2.3 Billion), Crude oil (£1 Billion) and Gas (£0.5 Billion).
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the trial in nine schools in North Ayrshire in October 2021, and the answer to question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, during which the First Minister stated that the use of such technology in schools "does not appear to be proportionate or necessary”, whether it is aware of any further plans to use facial recognition technology in schools in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not aware of any further plans to use facial recognition technology in schools in Scotland however, as the First Minister stated in her response question S6F-00388 on 28 October 2021, she is clear that the use of facial recognition in schools to be neither a proportionate nor a necessary measure. I can confirm this remains the position, although the decision on whether to introduce biometric identification systems into schools is ultimately a matter for local authorities and individual schools to consider for themselves. I also understand that North Ayrshire Council no longer use facial recognition technology and have reverted back to using Personal Identification Numbers for pupils to collect their school lunches.
I would like to be clear in stating our position, which is that prior to introducing biometric systems education authorities should carry out a privacy impact assessment, or a proportionate equivalent, and consult with pupils and parents. Information should also be provided on data protection; how to opt out; consent; and about alternative systems that can be used. Schools and education authorities will also pay due attention to the Information Commissioner’s Office requirements that organisations that are using facial recognition technology should comply with data protection law before, during and after its use.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 8 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made any plans to receive any refugees from Ukraine.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6T-00553 on 1 March 2022. Answers to Topical Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report .
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 02 March 2022
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to resettle Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2022
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to extend the use of facial recognition technology within Police Scotland.
Answer
The decision to use any technology with facial recognition capability is an operational matter for Police Scotland, whilst having regard to the relevant laws. The Scottish Government understands from Police Scotland that they have no plans to use live facial recognition technology at this time.
In line with Scottish Government's commitment to the legal, ethical and proportionate use of technologies in policing, an Independent Advisory Group on Emerging Technologies, whose membership includes policing, human rights and data protection stakeholders, is currently developing recommendations and is due to report to Ministers later this year.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-02263 by John Swinney on 31 August 2021, whether it will provide details of the cyber-attacks that occurred in the last three years, broken down by (a) the source of the attacks, (b) the sectors that were attacked and (c) the dates when the attacks took place.
Answer
The Scottish Government will not provide further details. The organisations that report cyber incidents under the Notifiable Scottish Public Sector Cyber Incidents procedure reasonably expect these details to be treated as confidential. Disclosure of these to a wider audience would undermine this confidentiality and adversely affect the openness with which organisations currently report incidents and participate in the reporting process. If this confidentiality were not maintained, Scottish public bodies could refrain from sharing incident details under this procedure. As a result, they may not receive the early support they need when facing a cyber incident. This would likely cause a substantial harm to the effective conduct of public affairs and the delivery of our public services.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government whether it (a) can and (b) has any plans to widen the remit of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner to include oversight of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places.
Answer
The Scottish Biometrics Commissioner was created through legislation introduced by the Scottish Government to the Scottish Parliament in 2019. The first Commissioner, Dr Brian Plastow, was appointed by Parliament and took up post in April 2021. The Commissioner’s main function is to support and promote the adoption of lawful, effective and ethical practices in relation to the collection, retention, use and destruction of biometric data for criminal justice and police purposes.
The scope of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 allows for the Commissioner’s oversight role to be extended to cover other bodies that have criminal justice or policing functions. Therefore, additional legislation would be required in order to broaden the Commissioner’s remit to include the use of facial recognition technology used in schools, shops, supermarkets and other public places. Consultation with the bodies affected and proper reflection would be required before any such legislation could be considered.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 1 March 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ban biometric surveillance in Scotland, in light of reported calls from Amnesty International and more than 170 organisations for its use to be prohibited.
Answer
The Scottish Government has noted the 2021 open letter by Amnesty International and its concerns around the use of mass surveillance biometric technology in public spaces.
The Scottish Government recognises that assurances are required in order to secure public trust and support for any future use of the technology. We also note that legal and regulatory provisions must be sufficient to ensure accountability and transparency.
These matters are not solely for the Scottish Government, and we stand ready to work with Police Scotland, local authorities, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office and others with regard to the use of mass surveillance biometric technology, to ensure an approach which is lawful, effective, proportionate and ethical.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 11 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Keith Brown on 28 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government (a) what its position is on and (b) whether it is aware of the use of Hikvision cameras by (i) Police Scotland and (ii) private companies in Scotland, and whether it has any plans to prohibit or limit their use.
Answer
The Scottish Government published the National Strategy for Public Space CCTV in Scotland in March 2011. The Strategy was created to provide guidance and a common set of principles to operators of public space CCTV across Scotland. It did not impose requirements but sought to provide advice and clarity to support decisions on the development of CCTV systems.
A number of Police Scotland CCTV cameras within the estate will be Hikvision or will contain Hikvision components. We are aware that the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee last year recommended to the UK Government that equipment manufactured by Hikvision and other such companies should not be permitted to operate within the UK. The UK Government’s response, published in November 2021, outlined the steps that had been taken to address the situation and undertook to take further steps in the coming months. The Scottish Government will continue to keep in close touch with developments and act accordingly, including consulting with Police Scotland on what measures they might take in response to these next steps.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 09 February 2022
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Current Status:
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 28 February 2022
To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address any financial scams linked to the NHS Scotland Covid Status app.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with CyberScotland Partners including Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to help protect the public from cyber threats.
The NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA), which works to fight and prevent fraud affecting the NHS have put together guidance and advice to help anyone who may be a target of scams which can be found here .
We encourage anyone who identifies a suspicious email to forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and to report any suspicious scam websites using the NCSC Scam Website Reporting Service which can be found here . Any victims of online or offline scams should report these to Police Scotland by calling 101. For general advice/support, contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.
